Basic Band Saw Operation - Craftsman 113.244510 Owner's Manual

basic band saw operation
A band saw is basically a "curve cutting" mach-
ine. It is also used for straight-line cutting opera-
tions such as cross cutting, ripping, mitering,
beveling, compound cutting, and resawing. It is
not capable of doing inside cutting.
This band saw is designed to cut wood and
wood aike products only.
For general type scroll cutting, fellow the pattern
lines by pushing and turning the workpiece at
the same time. Do not try to turn the workpiece
while engaged in the blade without pushing it;
the workpiece could bind or twist the blade.
A curve cut is best performed by keeping the
pattern line in line with the blade while turning
the workpiece before the radius of the curve is
cut. The blade should cut in the middle of the
pattern line (saw kerf) since wood cutting band
saw blades are thin.
NOTE: Blade guard is raised for clarity of picture
only.
SAW
KERF
W0 R KPi EC:_:
P,_,]l_RN L [Nti BLADE
RIGHT
- Planning ahead by turning workpiece
for cutting a curve.
W0 R KPi _} C E}
/
--.:z:2:x: ......................
PAl fERN LINE
WRONG - Not planning ahead for cutting
curve could bind or twist blade if workpiece i;
forced.
SAWUNG
1. Adjust the upper guide assembly to just clear
the workpiece.
.
.
Use both hands while feeding the work into
the blade. Hold the workpiece firmly against
the table. Use gentle pressure. Do not force
the work, but allow the blade to cut.
The smallest diameter circle that can be cut
out is determined by the width of the blade.
A 114" wide blade will cut a minimum dia-
meter of approximately 1-1/2".
Relief cuts are made when an intricate curve (too
small a radius for a ll4-inch blade) is to be cut. A
relief cut is made by cutting through scrap sec-
tion of workpiece to curve in pattern line, then
carefully backing blade out. Several relief cuts
should be made for intricate curves, then follow
pattern line as sections are cut off of curve
"relieving" blade pressure.
I
BLADE
/
NOTE: Blade guard is raised for clarity of picture
only,
15